Memories of Srila Prabhupada by BHAKTA DAS

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I distinctly remember my initiation of course because it’s something you dream of and wait for and pray for, for enumerable lifetimes. But in particular when Srila Prabhupada was there he said: “Bill prabhu come forward”. He said: “Your mane is Bhakta Das”. Handed me my bead. He said: “This name means that you are the servant of the devotees. The more you think of yourself as a servant the more you’ll advance in spiritual life. The more you think you becoming a master, the faster you will go to hell”. In one sentence he pretty much summarized the essence of Krishna Consciousness philosophy. And over the years I meditate on it over and over and over again. And I’ve attempted to serve the devotees whatever means I can. And I’ve found that it is without any doubt the mercy of the devotees that helps one to advance in spiritual life, much more than the mercy of Krishna. Our philosophy is that mercy of Krishna is to get our guru , the mercy of the guru or the mercy of the devotees is to get Krishna. We often times of course in the neophyte stage, kanishtha level of devotees, we worship the deity and we neglect the devotees. Or we give respect to the big devotees, swamis, gurus, but neglect the ordinary devotees. In this way, you know, I think… I know, I am guilty every variety of offence but I keep hearing those words of SP again and again echoing in my mind. “Become the servant of the devotees”. And I finally concluded that the highest service is to serve the newest devotee, the youngest devotee, because he is taking the bold step to try to leave the material world. If you help him, when you really helping the Krishna Consciousness movement. Cause people that are already mature in devotional service of course don’t need so much help.